The name's Cole ... James Cole

It would be fair to suggest that James Coles would have been an unknown quantity to many South Africans when Sunrisers Eastern Cape coach Adrian Birrell raised his paddle for the young Sussex allrounder at the Betway Season 4 auction.

But Birrell has long been an astute judge of talent and had been watching Coles’ trajectory ever since he made his first-class debut at 16 years and 157 days.

Now 21, Coles is an established member of the England Lions squad after two successful T20 Blast seasons with both bat and ball.

Birrell therefore had no qualms in placing his trust in the youngster for the all-important Betway SA20 clash against Joburg Super Kings at St George’s Park on Wednesday evening.

A victory would ensure qualification for the playoffs, but defeat would leave Sunrisers with two tricky final round-robin matches against a desperate MI Cape Town team hoping to keep their championship hopes alive.

Coles repaid the faith with a superb allround performance, striking 61 (34 balls, 10x4) before claiming 2/34 from his four overs with the ball, which eased Sunrisers to a 61-run victory and a place in the promised land.

“I can't say I had it on my bingo card but over the moon with how it's gone. Electric atmosphere again, so it makes it even more special,” Coles said after his sparkling debut performance before the Orange Army.

“There was a moment where I stopped and I could just feel it pounding in my chest from the band, so that was pretty incredible. I guess you just take an extra breath but you've got to ride the wave also. When they get behind you, you can really shift some momentum.”

Often fringe players within a large franchise squad are caught off guard when called upon after sitting on the bench for a lengthy period of time.

Coles was therefore grateful for Birrell’s precise communication so that he could prepare adequately.

“Adi’s been really good, really clear with letting me know if I've got a chance or if not,” Coles said.

“At training the other day, he just came and told me, so I knew straight away. So, it's just about trying to do the little things off the pitch.

“Make sure that I get myself ready, do everything at training when we have it. We don't have many opportunities to train, so when I do have training, having real purpose.”

Coles was equally pleased that he could bowl in tandem with Sunrisers’ frontline spinner Senuran Muthusamy after the Proteas left-armer had helped him with a few things at training.

“He's an absolute gun!” he said. “You can't really see him probably on TV but he's bowling to quite a short leg side and it's not an easy job at all.

“Just to watch his craft in the nets and everything, it's been incredible. He's been so good with me, giving me tips and stuff.”

Coles will be hoping to get another opportunity in Friday night’s clash against MI Cape Town at Newlands.